CODForums moves to xenForo!
- Thread starter Carlos
- Start date
Carlos
Well-known member
Stop. Just - stop. You're assuming too much before it gets heated.
I have been waiting a long time to correct all of these problems, and the reason why I'm doing it its because I'm trying to play it safe.
I know it takes "30 seconds" but you gotta understand that not everything is "one size fits all."
Everyone who told me to fix the problems 3 years ago, have come to respect what I have done thus far. And I'm aiming for a bigger turn-out close to CODGhosts launch day. Timing = everything.
I'm a marketer, you need to understand that.
We do not have many [good] images of CODGhosts, either. I've been waiting and looking for the right image, that one famous CODGhost image (which is why I designed the header the way it is now - it's because those two images are very well known).
I'm positive, I'm optimistic that I can take this site to the next level. You don't have to believe me, and you don't have to trust that... but I'm going to get there.
tajhay
Well-known member
Hi Carlos, I have been reading this thread for quite a long time now. Dont take this the wrong way, but when i goto your website, i straight away notice the twitter module not working, i see the nav all out of whack, i see that you have approx 2 posts per member on there, i see zero members online i cant help but get the feeling that the site has been ignored and basically ceased to exist. If you try to fix these issues up, people will actually feel that the site is used, works, and will be more inclined to join up.
I know you like to call yourself a 'marketer' but maybe it would be nice if you had recent tweets up on the sidebar to give the impression that the site is active and news are reported when it comes to hand for people who land there for their first glimpse.
Good luck!
I know you like to call yourself a 'marketer' but maybe it would be nice if you had recent tweets up on the sidebar to give the impression that the site is active and news are reported when it comes to hand for people who land there for their first glimpse.
Good luck!
ENF
Well-known member
Agreed, I've been watching this site ever since Carlos has posted it in various places.
It has a lot of potential, but I really don't think the owner is really maximizing the potential. This visual display problems are easy to fix, as Sheldon already pointed out. (fixing the visual points won't impact other parts of the site, period.)
Looking at the user base and post counts since the site has been around for awhile now:
9,054 posts.
1,717 belong to Carlos
7,337 posts by others
4026 Accounts
4025 Accounts that aren't Carlos
= Post Ratio of 1.82 per user. (~4.6 posts/day)
Based on some post dates, the site seems to have been around since June 2009. (post #1 is dated June 15, 2009)
I don't know how often the site was moved or offline, but that's 4 years, 3 months & 18 days (1,571 days)
At least from a passerby's point of view, I don't see any incentive to join what appears to be a site that is neglected (design flaws) and shows very little activity (broken Twitter)
Anyway, from a professional point of view the site could have already been generating sustaining revenue. It does have a high Google rank in search results which hasn't been capitalized upon.
Anyway, just my 2 cents from a passerby who's been watching for awhile.
Give your site some love and nurturing and it will love you back.
Shelley
Well-known member
If you stop for a moment and just add the css fix sheldon posted (add the padding: 0 24px ) it's 2 second job you eliminate a significant break which is a 2 second job to fix. Timing has nothing to do with fixing up issues, it would be much more wise as soon as an issue is reported that you are showing your on top of things by making those quick fixes.
Fix the navbar carlos you know it makes sense and don't forget to thank sheldon for providing the fix for you and taking the time out. 2 pence.
Carlos
Well-known member
You know what frustrates me is people like you who criticize without even understanding where folks like myself are coming from.
Let me explain something to you, okay? I've been posting news every single time. Every single time there's news from Activision or any one of their studios. But you don't know this because you see only a few members online. Then you assume... "oh, there's just two members online right now. It's not active and it's because the owner doesn't care." Okay. So, let me get this straight, I spent $1,101 on the network of sites that came with CODForums, I spent an extra $480 for MW3Blog, then I spent an extra $100 which includes buying that skin you see there. I'm sorry, but your assessment is off. You think I'm going to spend $2,000+ and not give a limey's ar$e about the growth of that network? 170,000 + 98,000 unique visitors combined between CODForums and MW3Blog. 250,000 to 300,000 - that's a lot, man. Can you do that on your own? I don't think so. Not without a lot of money or influence threshold.
I think I'm doing a banged up job!
Nobody in this thread has seen what I've done behind the scenes. Nobody has seen what I've been doing. Nobody has noticed my work. No one, except my family.
I'm sticking to my guns. I want to upgrade xenForo first so I can make the changes all at once. Every time I fix something, I have to come back to it again, and then again. Just as you have just seen.
Secondly: Right now, literally everyone is bored with Call of Duty right now. In fact, all the traffic from Black Ops 2 disappeared straight after the 3rd DLC. So, in this downtime, I've begun banning spammers, and deleting doormat accounts. And since the server move, I've even done more spring cleaning - I went through my [on-server] e-mails and deleted them. Now my disk space went from 6 gigs worth of spam, to one gig. Now all I have to do is worry about is enlarging this community to the next level.
What's the point of the Twitter "tweets" box, when I have a facebook box showing not just the amount of likes, but also the "latest news" like you said. This tells me you obviously did not read a single thread on my site. This is the other assessment that's off.
I'm not trying to call myself a "marketer" I said that because @Sheldon keeps questioning my marketing tactics. Including asking "how does twitter and facebook translate into this and that." I'm trying to be a respected member of this community and all everyone ever does is assume, assume, and assume. Yeah, I don't care about CODForums. Yeeeeeah..... No.
$2000 says ...No. Hell No. *shakes head* No.
Don't think you have. Based on what I just said.
As I said before. This is a problem of my screw-up with over-writing the old skin, and then I re-added HIS code back into the skin. Just as originally coded earlier in this thread.
Numbers are deceiving. Half of the posters from 2011 haven't even posted yet because they don't like Treyarch's games. I've spoken to those posters that originally posted a lot during MW3's launch and post-launch. They have different reasons for not posting as much. A few have told me it's because of Treyarch.
The other half of the posters are clan recruitment/video posts. Those two account for 50% of the posts that "aren't Carlos."
2009 > early 2011 = vB3, 2011 = vB4, moved into xenForo in August. I spent the majority of 2011/2012 getting members accustomed to xenForo's software. Then in October 2012 (I think?) I went and bought the skin, and I got a spike of traffic from there.
What you're saying is navi, "broken" twitter box, and yeah, design.... This will be fixed. I have a design in mind and I'm going to launch it all at once. I just need $40 to upgrade xenForo and go back to editing the whole thing (takes 2 hours to do).
What kind of love? I bought that skin, designed it (colors, images, additional sidebar), posted news, when they come out. I've been using twitter/facebook/google on the whole shebang. So, again, what love are you talking about? Hm?
Last edited:
markku
Well-known member
I don't understand.
Sheldon provided you with one line of code that you can put into extra.css, which takes you 30 seconds, and that fixes the navigation issue.
When you in time upgrade your xenforo installation, you can remove that one line of code if it becomes obsolete due to the upgrade.
It's simply crazy not to fix the navigation. It looks quite bad now.
I don't think you can come up with any rational reasons not to do it.
Carlos
Well-known member
Because, I don't remember where I put the old code - The one that Sheldon originally gave me, to enlarge that "width" thing. If I put the new one, I will just break whatever I have now. I don't want to go back and re-do what I had done before. That's what this is about.
Sheldon
Well-known member
It doesn't matter where or what the old code is. That line of css I gave you overwrites it and corrects the issue.
Lisa
Well-known member
It'll use the same css class, so just search the templates for it - that'll show you were you changed in the first time
(it's highly likely to be in the extra.css already).
Carlos
Well-known member
Well, now that you made that clear. I went ahead and tried it out. It turns out the navigation is fixed.
Now it's all down to the footer, which I'll fix in the morning. Right now, me go to sleep.
The "broken" twitter thing will not be fixed until I deploy the next ZeroHour update (which like I said, will be deployed with 1.2.x). The current version that John deployed to the skin - removed the whole twitter box entirely, what takes its place? A placeholder quote. Which I will use for CODForums' various banners.
Note to self: Look for a rotating banner code for alternating between "sign up" banner, and contest banner.
Last edited:
Carlos
Well-known member
Didn't have to. I fixed the issue.
What I did is allocated a 23 x 23 image to the footer, put repeat. Annnd, kaboom. It's fixed.
tajhay
Well-known member
How so? You dont think I am a forum admin? Perhaps have a look at the section where you have posted your site, voluntarily might i add.
Dont want feedback, simply get the thread removed. Next time i suggest you read what the forum is about before posting your site on there.
So you actually think the more you spend, the better your returns will be? I and presumably most people on here couldnt care less how much you spent on the site. It definitely looks nothing like a $2000 website. And since you asked me, yes, i have done better than you. My site has been operational for just over a year and has:
- 1098 members
- 97612 posts
- 13938 discussions
= 88 average posts per member.
= over 200 popsts per day
Keep in mind we do not allow 'low value' posts such as 'lol that was funny' etc.
I have only had just over 500k visits and 110k unique visitors, but thats ok as we are a sports team website based in NZ, playing a minority sport (rugby league). Primarily all our visits are from NZ and Australia. Want to know why there is such a large participation? Well first of all, our site works, and looks active. My site has sponsorship from urbanwear clothing companies, a sports cap company, even our VPS hosting is free due to the success we have had in just over a year.
And do you know how much i spent? Between $500-600 so far. Quite surprising you are happy to fork out 2k for god knows what, yet struggling to pay $40 to upgrade.
Unique visitors means jack **** if you are not converting them. Still dont know why you are not converting them? Justifying the success of a website because you have spent a lot of money on it is a void argument.
So before you question others, stop having a superiority complex, getting defensive, and accept constructive criticism (which my first post certainly was).
I personally want all xenforo forums to succeed, and that was the purpose of my initial post. I am glad you have been able to resolve a few of the issues since yesterday, just by accepting the code that @Sheldon gave you. How decent of you to not even give thanks for the help that others have given you. If only you werent as stubborn, it could have been fixed many months ago.
Also whilst you are at it, you might want to rethink your forums tag line...
'The fastest growing Call of Duty Forum'.
Like i said good luck to you.
Last edited:
Carlos
Well-known member
What are you insinuating? That I posted in the wrong place? Hey, @Brogan is this the wrong place to post my site? I don't think so, because it's been here for what... 3 years? 15,000 views to this thread, and being the top 5 most viewed forum showcases...
I never said I don't want feedback. I simply am frustrated that people like you come down hard on me because they assume too much for their own good.
And so far, you have not said one thing positive about me, or my site. In fact, you were so negative, you got so egotistical to the point of "I can do better than you." I could go nastier that that, but that's me being polite.
What? Are you insinuating that my posts are low value? Yeah ....No. I'm not going to take that tone from you.
Your site is active and has more participation because of the fanbase. Your marketshare, the sports folks are very rabid. So rabid that they'll come in droves. In fact, if you do something controversial, and you're a sports company - you can expect 1,000 to 50,000 to the most, 1 million people talking crap about you and your company. You'll lose a lot of money by the end of the fiscal year. You're out of business faster than a bar that falls. I have this knowledge because I have seen it happen.
Nice jab. Sarcastic people amazes me. No understanding of the situation, especially when already explained... Amazing.
You sound like Sheldon, "no idea why" when I explained it plainfully. Also, I can't force them to sign up and whatnot. In fact, people are happy that I don't really force them to - they think the site is "cool."
Me? Superior complex? *points and laugh.* ....No. Defensive? Because people talk with nothing to back it up - which hurts my site. You guys think you can just waltz into someone's showcase thread and spew negativity to a user and bring him down when he's struggling? I'm positive that I can get somewhere with my sites. No, I have to contend with negative people.
Great that you want to see other xenforo forums to succeed, but you criticize without understanding where the other person is coming from, and just assuming negative stuff about the site/person. Grow up.
See! This is the negativity I have to put up with!
If you got nothing positive to say, then don't post or say anything at all. This has nothing to do with being stubborn, it's all got to do with being safe, and not having to go back and fix it all over again.Oh, and 4,000 members in less than 3 years isn't easy hence the tagline. My site has 5,000+ overall members, but you ignored the fact that I did a database cleanup. And like you said, you don't care about the small details ($2000 being one of them).
To the mods: I'm sorry. I just need to defend myself.
If this gets me in trouble, then so be it.
I'm not going to take it from people who have nothing positive to say than to drag me down and hurt me in the process. Much less in my own showcase thread.
Last edited:
Steve F
Well-known member
@Carlos you create the negativity every time you respond to someones critique about your site. You posted your site for critique and that is what you are getting. I really am confused most times when you make replies to anyone because you are always so defensive even though everyone has politely given you fixes and or great advice. You turn it around to a negative and go on about how you don't do things that way or.. well, hell I don't why you do it...lol
I'm sure I'll have some mud coming my way but I just had to say it..Step down from that throne you think your on and listen when people are trying to help you. No one is dragging you into any argument but yourself Carlos.
jadmperry
Well-known member
@Carlos you create the negativity every time you respond to someones critique about your site. You posted your site for critique and that is what you are getting. I really am confused most times when you make replies to anyone because you are always so defensive even though everyone has politely given you fixes and or great advice. You turn it around to a negative and go on about how you don't do things that way or.. well, hell I don't why you do it...lol
I'm sure I'll have some mud coming my way but I just had to say it..Step down from that throne you think your on and listen when people are trying to help you. No one is dragging you into any argument but yourself Carlos.
Carlos,
I have to agree with the input here....listen, the term "critique" encompasses giving feedback (hopefully, constructive feedback- in that it is helpful to make changes that help you, but, not just a flame on you). I think that all the folks here did that, at least initially (though, after back and forth, it may have edged into just criticism).
I don't think the point here is to either attack OR just give accolades to sites. Seems like you were hoping that everyone just said, "Your site is great!!"). If that is what you were hoping for, you basically have two choices for your response- ignore, or take what was stated in stride (and make changes- like it sounds like you did- as appropriate).
Seems strange to me that the tenor of a lot of folks posting was to help you improve (in the view of the responsive posters) and this was taken as an attack on you, your site(s) and your corporate empire. I think that you should not take things as an attack, but take comments as objective observations, and incorporate changes if they make sense. Most ventures that do not take input into account (i.e., are not responsive to input or feedback) fail.
But, if you just want positive input, it does sound like you have put a lot of personal effort and desire into your forum. I hope it takes off like you want. I don't play COD, or any of the games really covered on your site (it has been too long, but, I have enjoyed me some Elder Scrolls...but, my free time is far and few between). Maybe I have missed the allure or point of your site. I hope it goes well for you.
jadmperry
Well-known member
I am not sure that folks were picking on him (at least not initially...though, maybe, some of that crept in after responses to folks input). But, I am guessing, no matter what he will "do his thang."((I am not a licensed psychic, but, for a small fee (as determined by me), I will tell you anything you want to hear)).
